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Linda A. Dahlgren, DVM, PhD, DACVS

Professor
  • Large Animal Surgery
Linda Dahlgren
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech
205 Duck Pond Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061

PhD, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, 2003
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

MS, Veterinary Medicine, 1996
Iowa State University
Ames, IA

DVM, 1989
Washington State University
Pullman, WA

AB, Biology, 1985
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME

  • American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 1997
  • Tendon biology and healing
  • Wound healing
  • Tissue engineering
  • Mesenchymal stem cells
  • Adult stem cell biology

2019–present
Professor, Large Animal Surgery
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

2011–2019
Associate Professor, Large Animal Surgery
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

2004–2011
Assistant Professor, Large Animal Surgery
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

2002–2004
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Comparative Orthopaedics Laboratory
Department of Clinical Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

2003
Consulting Equine Surgeon
Department of Clinical Sciences
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS

1997–2002
PhD Candidate
Comparative Orthopaedics Laboratory
Department of Clinical Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

1995–1997
Instructor, Equine Surgery
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA

1992–1995
Resident, Equine Surgery
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA

1992
Intern, Equine Medicine and Surgery
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital
Snohomish, Washington

1991
Intern, Equine Medicine and Surgery
Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center
Los Olivos, CA

1990–1991
Associate Veterinarian, Large Animal Clinic
Oak Harbor, WA

1989–1990
Intern, Equine Medicine and Surgery
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS

  • Orthopaedic Research Society
  • American College of Veterinary Surgeons
  • Veterinary Orthopedic Society
  • Outstanding Mentor Award, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 2021
  1. Rezvani SN, Nichols AE, Grange RW, Dahlgren LA, Brolinson PG, Wang VM. A novel murine muscle loading model to investigate Achilles musculotendinous adaptation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2021. EPub. 
  2. Menarim BC, Gillis KH, Oliver A, Ngo Y, Werre SR, Barrett SH, Rodgerson DH, Dahlgren LA.  Macrophage activation in the synovium of healthy and osteoarthritic equine joints. Front Vet Sci 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.568756
  3. Menarim BC, Gillis KH, Oliver A, Mason C, Werre SR, Luo X, Byron CR, Kalbfleisch TS, MacLeod JN, Dahlgren LA.  Inflamed synovial fluid induces a homeostatic response in bone marrow mononuclear cells in vitro: Implications for joint therapy.  FASEB J 2020 34:4430-4444. 
  4. Menarim BC, Gillis KH, Oliver A, Mason C, Ngo, Y, Werre SR, Barrett SH, Luo X, Byron CR, Dahlgren LA. Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells modulate joint homeostasis in an equine in vivo model of synovitis. FASEB J 2019 33:14337-14353.
  5. Khatibzadeh SM, Menarim BC, Nichols AEC, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA.  Effects of urinary bladder matrix on hydrogel matrix organization and tenogenesis in vitroJ Orthop Res 2019 37:1848-1859.
  6. Polly SS, Nichols AEC, Donnini E, Inman DJ, Scott TJ, Apple SM, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA.  Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction and cultured stromal cells as trophic mediators for tendon healing. J Orthop Res 2019 37:1429-1439.
  7. Nichols AEC, Settlage RE, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA. RNA-Seq analysis of scleraxis-mediated gene targets important in maintaining tenocyte fate. BMC Cell Biol 2018 19:14.
  8. Nichols AC, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA. Transient scleraxis overexpression combined with cyclic strain enhances ligament cell differentiation. Tissue Eng Part A 2018 24;1444-1450.
  9. Ludwig EK, Wiese BR, Graham MR, MS, Tyler AJ, Settlage JM, Petersson-Wolfe CS, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA. Serum and synovial fluid serum amyloid A response in equine models of synovitis and septic arthritis. Vet Surg 2016;45:859-867.
  10. Dahlgren LA, Milton S, Boswell SG, Werre SR, Brewster CC, Jones CS, Crisman MV. Evaluation of a novel hyaluronic acid-based biomaterial to enhance wound healing in the equine distal limb. J Equine Vet Sci 2016 44:90-99.
  11. Thayer PS, Verbridge SS, Dahlgren LA, Kakar S, Guelcher SA, and Goldstein AS. Fiber/collagen composites for tissue engineering: The influence of elastic moduli of sparse aligned fibers on bone marrow stromal cells. J Biomed Mat Res A2016:104:1894-1901.
  12. Cardwell RD, Kluge JA, Thayer PS, Dahlgren LA, Kaplan DL, Goldstein A. Static and Cyclic Mechanical Loading of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Elastomeric, Electrospun Polyurethane Meshes. J Biomech Eng. EPub.
  13. O’Shea CM, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA. Comparison of platelet counting technologies in equine platelet concentrates. Vet Surg. 2015;44:304-313. 
  14. Thayer PS, Dimling AF, Plessl DS, Hahn MR, Guelcher SA, Dahlgren LA, Goldstein AS.  Cellularized cylindrical fiber/hydrogel composites for ligament tissue engineering. Biomacromolecules 2014;15:75-83.
  15. Fontenot RL, Sink CA, Werre SR, Weinstein NM, Dahlgren LA. Simple tube centrifugation for processing platelet-rich plasma in the horse. Can Vet J. 2012;53:1266-1272.
  16. Cardwell RD, Dahlgren LA, Goldstein AS. Electrospun fibre diameter, not alignment, affects mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into the tendon/ligament lineage. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2014;8:937-945.
  17. Noschka E, Werre SR, Crisman MV, Thatcher CD, Milne GL, Dahlgren LA.  Implications of urine F2-isoprostane metabolite concentration in horses with colic and its potential use as a predictor for surgical intervention.  Equine Vet J Suppl. 2011 39:34-41.
  18. Cissell JM, Milton SC, Dahlgren LA. Investigation of the effects of prostaglandin E2 on equine superficial digital flexor tendon fibroblasts in vitro. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2010;23:417-423. 
  19. Bashur CA, Shaffer RD, Dahlgren LA, Guelcher SA, Goldstein AS.  Effect of fiber diameter and alignment of electrospun polyurethane meshes on mesenchymal progenitor cells. Tissue Eng Part A. 2009;15:2435-2445. 
  20. Nixon AJ, Haupt JL, Dahlgren LA, Yeager AE. Adipose–derived nucleated cell fractions improve tendon repair in a collagenase–induced tendinitis model. Am J Vet Res 2008:69:928–937. 
  21. Bashur CA, Dahlgren LA, Goldstein AS.  Effect of fiber diameter and orientation on fibroblast morphology and proliferation on electrospun poly(D,L–Lactic–co–Glycolic acid) meshes. Biomaterials 2006;27:5681–5688.
  22. Dahlgren LA, Mohammed HO, Nixon AJ. Temporal expression of growth factors and matrix molecules in healing tendinitis lesions. J Orthop Res 2005;23:84-92.
  23. Dahlgren LA, van der Meulen MCH, Bertram JEA, Starrak GS, Nixon AJ. Insulin-like growth factor-I improves cellular and molecular aspects of healing in a collagenase-induced model of flexor tendinitis. J Orthop Res 2002;20:910-919.